Meteor streaks across sky over California

A possible meteor shower crossed the Bay Area and caught the attention of many people all over. (Bob Moreno)

October 16, 2012 9:00:00 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO --

A meteor crossed the sky over the Bay Area Wednesday evening with a bright flash and loud boom. The fireball caught the attention of hundreds of people, probably more.

Here's what we know: several callers say they heard a loud boom or an explosion and a possible streak in the sky around 7:45 p.m. One man said the light was very bright, even casting a shadow. The callers were from Marin, the Fairfax area, Oakland, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz.

Early on, astronomers said what people were describing could be consistent with a satellite or large meteor breaking up in the sky.

The National Weather Service says they've received reports from Mendocino to Monterey counties and they believe it's related to the Orionid meteor shower. That celestial event is peaking this weekend.

An astronomer from the Chabot Space & Science Center says it was a meteor about the size of a small car.